Leaders searching for ways to save RiverQuarium

Downtown Albany leaders
are looking for ways to make sure the Flint Riverquarium remains an important
part of downtown for years to come.

Tonight, The Albany Dougherty Inner City Authority board began
discussions on renewing a contract with the non-profit Flint Riverquarium,
Incorporated to manage the attraction, that expires in April.

Board members will review
the current contract and come up with questions or suggested improvements that
they'll talk about next month.

"The conversation has
typically been how do we save it, how do we save it, how do we save it? The
conversation should be, how do we sustain it? How do we make it work?" said
Tommy Gregors, Executive Director, Thronateeska Foundation.

Leaders plan to see if
there are ways to further integration of the Flint Riverquarium and
Thronateeska Heritage Center to make the neighboring attractions more
efficient.

They've had an operations agreement since 2009 to share staff. Recently,
Thronateeska Executive Director Tommy Gregors also took over as the Chief
Operating Officer at the Riverquarium.

Just this week, Albany city commissioners
voted to give the RiverQuarium $150,000 to try to solidify its
future.